Mary Burke focuses on women as she enters final month trailing Gov. Walker

MADISON (WKOW) -- Gov. Scott Walker (R-Wisconsin) holds an enormous 28 point lead over Mary Burke (D) among likely male voters in the latest Marquette Law School Poll released Wednesday, which means Burke will likely have to add to her 14 point lead among women if she is going to win on November 4th.

The Burke campaign certainly seems to be focusing on that demographic entering the final month of the race.

First Lady Michelle Obama will make her second visit to Wisconsin in eight days when she campaigns for Burke in Madison next Tuesday. She already campaigned for Burke in Milwaukee this past Monday.

Cecile Richards, President of the Planned Parenthood Action Fund, made two campaign stops for Burke on Wednesday. Those high profile women are putting Gov. Walker's record on women's issues front and center.

"That conversation was a huge part of what the first lady talked about when she was in Milwaukee," said Jenni Dye, a progressive Dane County Supervisor and Research Director at One Wisconsin Now. "Talking about women's reproductive health and the ability to make our own decisions, talking about equal pay."

But many Republicans say that "war on women" messaging is demeaning and doesn't hold much substance.

"As a woman myself I'm thinking, 'well what does she really stand for?'", said Beverly Maddrell, Chair of the Republican Women of Dane County.

Maddrell believes it is unlikely the Governor can win a majority of women, but she believes enough females will take a deep enough look at the candidates to keep Burke from building her lead to 20 or 30 points.

"They shouldn't just vote for Burke because she's a woman. I think what people should be looking at is leadership qualities," said Maddrell.

But the Walker campaign clearly recognizes he needs to have some specific messaging for women. They put out an ad this week featuring a domestic abuse survivor praising him for legislation he's signed to give more protections to victims. It coincides with the October being recognized as Domestic Violence Awareness Month.